Control of tubs or trucks in collieries or the like



June 5, 1928.

D. F BROWN CONTROL OF TUBS OR TRUCKS IN GOLLIERIES OR THE LIKE Filed March 21, 1924 Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED, STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD THE oogaronA'rIoN or PENNSYLVANIA.

1. BROWN, 01; LoNDoN, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 pNIoN SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, or swIsSvALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CONTROL 01? runs o 'I'EUcKs INc'oLLIEEIEs on THE LIKE.

Application filed March 21, 1924, Serial No.

My invention relates to the control of tubs or trucks such as are commonly employed in collieries and the like, and has for its object to provide means for automatically controlling the delivery of vehicles of'this description upon Converging and diverging tracks.

Various arrangements have been proposed and are now in general use for controlling the passage of vehiclesof this description over a selected portion or portions of the track, in some cases the axle or other portion of the vehicle being arranged to engage with and eflfect the operation of a device adapted automatically to retard the speed of the vehicle or vehicles prior'to the arrival of the latter at a point in the track at which 1 is located a counting device, the latter "of which may be arrangedto record the number of vehicles and permitthe passage of a predetermined number of vehicles in succession whereupon the device is moved or moves to a position to prevent the passage of further vehicles until a releasing operation has been eflected. v I

My present invention contemplates in certain circumstances the employment of retarding and counting mechanism of this general character, but essentially utilizes a device or devices which permit the passage of a selected number of vehicles only, and subse quently effects a complete braking or stop page of the remainder of the vehicles until the device is released.

According to my present invention a system of automatic control is provided for use upon converging or diverging tracks, whereby a predetermined number of vehicles released from a single track may be equally or otherwise distributed 1 upon diverging tracks, or, in the case of converging tracks, a predetermined number of vehicles may be delivered alternatelyor in succession from such tracks on to the single track.

My invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, of Y which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the general arrangements for controlling the delivery of vehicles from two converging tracks in accordance with one form of my' invention; i

Fig. 2 being a similar view illustrating 700,966, and in Great mmmm 4, 1923.

my invention as applied to a pair of diverging tracks.

Referring now first to Fig. 1, a pair of tracks A, B are Indicated as converging into a sngle track C by means of stationary points D of any well-known type.

The track A is provided with a and a detecting device 3, so arran ed as to be traversed in succession by the veiiclespassing along the track A. The other track B is similarly provided with a retarding or braking device 4, a controlling device 5 and a detecting device6, and the track C beyond the points D is provided witha special counting device 7. a -.The retarding devices 1 and 4 are preferably operated by .the weight of the tubs "themselves, their release being effected by fluid under pressure controlled by electropneumatically operated valves in such a manner that the retarding braking action is exerted upon the vehicles passing the devices 1 and 4 at all times except when the corresponding electro-magnets 8 and 9 are supplied with energizing current. The controllingdevices 2, 5, may comprise a star wheel nism which is returned to its locked position by current supplied to a locking electro-magnet 12,13. I I 1 The controlling device 2 is provided with detector contacts 14 and 69, while the detector device 5 is provided with detector contacts 15 and 67, each'adapted to close or to open'a control circuit according to whether the controlling device be unlocked or locked. The detecting devices 3, 6 may comprise treadles adapted to open normally closed contacts 16, 17, when avehicle passes over the, treadle. i

- The counting wheel mechanism adapted to be operated by retarding or brakingdevice 1, a controlling device 2,

device 7 may comprise a star the axles of the vehicles passing over the device, the shaft or spindle of the star wheel being provided with a disc ordrnm'18 carry ing a contact segment 19 which, after a predetermined number of axles haspassed over the device 7, electrically connects together a pair of hired contacts 20 and after a further equal number of vehicles has passed connects together another pair offixed contacts 21.

The controlling arrangements also comprise a pair of relays '22, 23, for controlling the operation of the controlling devices 2, 5, respectively.

The operation of the control system is as follows A'ssuming that the coiinting device 7 has been'set'into thcposition shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 by the passage/ ot a number of vehicles along the track 0,- the contact segment 19 has been brought into engagement-with the fixed contacts 20 with the result that -a 'circuit is completed :from

the positive terminal 24, through conductor 25, fixedcontacts 20, conductor 26the lower 25 armature" 2T of the relay 23, relay contact 28; conductor-29, the releasing magnet 11,

tothe negative terminal 30; The-controlling device 5 is consequently unlocked and a circuit is completed from the positive.v terminal 31, through the-closed detector contacts -15,conductor 32, the electror-magnet 9 of the retarding device: 1, to th'en'egative terminal'33. The retarding'device l is 'con sequently released'and is free for the passage -o-f the vehicles passing along thetrztck B and the controlling device 5 being unlocked these vehicles are permitted to pass over the controlling device 5 towards-the points D.

'As the first vehicle passes-over the detecting device 6 the fo'llowingcircuit is interrupted at the detector contacts 17; from the positive terminal 34 through closed detector contacts 17, conductor 35, the'upper'aar'mature 36 of the relay 23, conductor 37, through the relay winding 23, tothe .negative'terminal' 38. This circuit, which constitutes 'the 'retainingcircuit of the relay 23 having been broken at thedetector contacts 17,"the

relay is de-energized and thearmatures 36 and 27 consequently fall to their lower or unattracted position, in which'the armature 27 is in engagement with alowercontact 39.

J The: circuit previously traced through'the conductor 26 is thus now completedth-rough the relay contact 39', conductor 40, the' lock- 1 ingelectro-magnet 13 of the controlling dcvice 5, to the negative terminal 30, with the result that the controlling device=5-is rerlocked-andwill prevent the further passage oat-vehicles over the device after a predeterminednumber of vehicles has passed,

The vehicles, after traversing the points D enter the track C- andpass over the counting device 7, the passage of the; vehicles causing the drum 18 to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrozs, so that the contact segment 19 is moved out of engagement with the stationary contacts 20.

The circuit from the positive terminal 2 1' to the conductor 26 is thus interrupted and the locking electro-magnet 13 is de-energized 'without, however, affecting the action of the controller 5,'the temporary energization of the lockingelectromagnet 13 during the passage of the first vehicle from the detecting'clevice 6 to thecountingdevice 7 being 1 for the purpose only of ensuring that the controller 5 'shall be eltectively'relocked;

= For the purpose of" explaining the-opera tiolr of the system. it will be assumed'that i *the 'controller 5 is so constructed'as to permitthe passage of six axles,; corresponding to three vehicles, before being automatically relocked, z and 'the relocking action effected broken -:by :the, relocking of the controlling "device 'The axles' of thevthree i'vehicles thus 'pe'rmittedto. enter the track C eifect thearotationot' the star Wheel of the counting device 7 through'one half of a complete revolution; with the result that as ,soon as "the three vehicles h'avepassed thecounting device 7 the contact'segment 19 comes into engagement With the-stationary contacts 21.

As a result, a circuit is completed iromthe positive terminal 24,: through conductor 11,

- contact segment 19, stationary contacts 21,

conductor 42, thellower armature 43 of the relay 22,--stationary*contact 1 1, conductor 45,-the releasingelectro-magnet 10 of the controlling device 2 to the negative termi- -nal46.- The controlling device 2 is thus un- Flocked; with a the result that a circuit is completed from the positive-terminal 47,

through the detector contact 1 1,- conductor 18, thewelectro-magnet 8 of the retarding device 1 to thenegat-iveterminal 49. The

line of vehicleson the' track A is thus periii'itted to move past the controllingdevice 2' and also over the retarding device 1 which is in its released positiomand as soon as the first otthese vehicles reaches the detecting device 3,, the retaining circuit through the relay22 is interrupted at the relay arma- .ture 50 in the manneralready described with reference 1 tovehicles passing along 1 the track B.

*Theunlockingot the controlling device 2- ia-lso completes a circuit from the positive terminal .68 through contact 69, conductor 51,;andrela 'winding 23 to the negative terminal 38, t is circuit constituting'the pickup circuit for'therelay 23 which is thus energized and restores the armatures 36 and 27 to the position'y'shown in the drawing. The remainder of the o'p'erationof the system so far as the passage of vehicles from the track A to thetrack C is concerned is similar to that already described and it will thus be seen that a series of three vehicles is delivered alternately from the tracks A and B to the track C under conditions ensuring safety and rapidity in operation. 7

Referring now to Fig. 2, my invention is illustrated asapplied to a system in which vehicles passing along a track A are to be delivered alternately in series or groups containing equal numbers of vehicles to two diverging tracks B and C past a set of points D. The latter are arranged to bemoved from a position establishing communication between the tracks A and C to .a position establishing communication I between the tracks A and B, or vice versa, by means of a fluid pressure actuated motor 52, the supply of fluid underpressure to which is controlled by means of an electro-magnetically actuated valve, the electro-magnet winding of which isindicated at 53. The points D are arranged to be maintained in the position shown in which communication is established between the tracks A and C by means of a spring or the like, and to bemoved to their opposite position in which communication is established between the. tracks A and B when fluid under pressure issu plied to the motor 52 by the energiz ation o the electromagnet 53. The track A is provided with a cont-rolling device 54 similar in construction to the corresponding. devices already described with reference to the system of Fig. 1, the controlling device 54 being pro vided with a releasing electro-magnet 35, which when energized unlocksthe controlling device 54 and'permits the passage of a predetermined. number of vehicles before the controlling device is relocked The controlling device 54 is also provided wit-h a rotatable drum or disc 56 carrying a contact segment 57 adapted in certain positions of the drum 56 to connect stationary contacts 58 electricallvtogether.

The operation of the system is as follows 2- Assuming that a line of vehicles is'standing on the track A, their forward movement being prevent-ed by thecontrolling device 54 which is assumed to be locked, the'unlocking of this device is elfected by the operator depressing a manually operated key or. switch 59 thereby establishing a circuit,ffrom the positive terminal 60 through the key '59, conductor 61, the releasing magnet 55, to the negative terminal 62. The controlling device 54 being thus unlocked, the vehicles-are permitted to pass forward along the track A towards the points D the passage of the first axle of theseries of vehicles over the;

controlling device 54 being arrangedto effect a corresponding rotation of the drum 56 in ters or 0t the direction indicated 'by the arrow, so as to connect the stationary contacts 58 electrically together by means of the contact segment 57. As a result acircuit'is completed from the positive terminal 63, through the contacts 58 and contact segment 57 conductor 64, the electro-magnet 53, to the negative terminal 65,. and fluid under pressure 'is thus supplied to the motor device 52, to

effect the setting of the points D to a position in which communication is established between the tracks A and B. The series of half of a complete revolution, with the re-,

sult that when the operator again presses the key 59' to unlock the controlling device 54 the contact segment.57 moves out of engagement with the stationary contacts 58 as soon as the" first axle of the new series of vehicles passes over the controlling device 54. As a result,the eleetro-magnet 53 is de-energized and the points D returnto the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the next successive group or series of three vehicles passing the controlling device 54 is delivered to the track C, the passage of the last axle of this group or series restoring the drum 56 to'the position'shown in the figure,

It will be thus be seen that the vehicles are delivered from the track A in groups or series ofthree vehicles to the tracks B and C alternately. It will be understood that the system shown in Fig. 2 may, if desired, be provided with retarding devices for the vehicles such as thoseindicated at 1 and 4 in Fig. 1, andthat the delivery of the vehicles from the track A to the tracks B and C may be arranged to be automaticby providin a system of relays and axle counierapparatus such as that described inconnection with Fig. 1, thus rendering the provision of the manually operated key-'59 unnecessary.

My inventlon is evidently not limited to k 1. In-lcombinatiomflaz railway. track, a vehicle controller arranged tom-lock after ,a given numberof, Vehicles has:passed, a retarder located: in. the rear ofsaid Controller and normally incondition' to. reduce the speedof vehicles and "means for releasing said retarderwhen said controller is unlocked but, not when it. is locked.

2. Incombination, a railwaywtrack, '"a vehicle controller arranged to lock!v after a given number of vehiclesvhas passed, a magnet for releasing said controllenand. means controlled by vehicles for energizing, said magnet.

3. In combination,-;a,pair of converging tracksleading into a single track a vehicle controllerifor each track arranged to lock after thepassage of a, givennumber of'vehicles,wand a counteraoperated by vehicles entering said i singlewtrack for alternately releasing;saidycontrollers.

a 4. In combination, a pair ofconyerging tracks leading into a single track, I a vehicle controller for; each track arranged to look after the passage of a given number of vehicles, a counter operated by vehicles entering said single'track, a magnet for each controller arranged-when energized to release the'control-ler and means controlled. by said counter for-alternately energizing said magnets.

5. ,In combination, a railway track, a vehiclecontroller arranged to 10 k after; a given number ofvehicles has passed, amaignet for releasing said controller, andsmeans controlledby a vehicle, after passing said con- .troller for dejenergizing said magnet.

' 6. In combination, a :pair othconverging tracks leading into a; single rtI'ZlCk, av vehicle controller for each track arranged to lock after the" passage of -a -given number of vehicles, a retarder located in the rear of each controllervand-normally in condition, to reducethe speed of ;vehicles approaching the controller, means for releasingeach rejtarder when the associatedacontroller is unlocked but not when it islocked,and means for releasing each controller aftera, given number of vehicles has enteredsaidrSingle track from the, other converging track.

7 In combination, a pair of, converging tracks-leading into asing-le track, a vehicle controller for; each, track arranged to look after the passage of a giveninumben of vehicles, a retarder located int-the rear oi each controller and normally in condition to reduce the speed ofvehicles approaching the controller, means for releasing; each netarder when the associated controller is unlocked butv not when it is locked, andxneans controlled by vehicles entering said-single track for alternately releasing said, controllers.

c '8. In combination, va pair ofconverging tracks leading into a single, track, a', vehicle controller .for each track. .arrangedvto lock after. the passagefofa givennumber of vehicles, a retardcr located in therearf of each controller and normally in condition to re duce thespeed of vehicles approaching the controller, means for .releasingeach retarder when the associated controller is unlocked {but not when it is locked, and a counter operated by vehicles entering said single track for alternately "releasing said controllers.

9. In combination, a pair of converging tracks leading into a single track, a vehicle controller for each track arranged to lock after the passage of a given number of vehicles, a retarderilocated in the rear of: each controller and normally in condition to reduce the-speed of vehicles approaching the controller, means for. releasing; each retarder when the associated controller 1s "unlocked but notwhen it is locked, a counteroper'ated by vehicles entering said single track, a

magnet for each controller arranged when energized to release rthc controller, and means controlled by said counter for alternately energizing said magnets.

10. In combination, a pair of converging tracks leading: into a single track, a counter located in said singletrack for. alternately closing two. circuit controllers one for each converging track,,a=veh1cle controller. for

each convergingtrack arranged to look after thepassage of a giveniqnumber of; vehicles, a releasing, magnet for each vehicle controller, a; relay forv each Vehicle controller, a pick-up circuit foryeach relay including a contact closed only when the vehicle controller for; the .other converging track is unlocked, .a stick: circuit for each relay ill) opened vby a vehicle passing along the associated track in advance of the vehicle controller, and a circuit for each releasingmagnet controlled by the associated 'relayf'and the corresponding counter-actuated circuit controller.

11. In combination, a pair of converging tracks leading into a. single-track, a counter located in said single track for alternately closing two circuit controllers one foreach converging track, a vehicle controller for each converging track arranged to lock after the passage of agiven number ofgvehicles,

areleasing magnet for each "vehicle controller, a relay for each vehicle controller, a plclg-up circuit for each relay ncludlng a contact closed only when the vehicle 'cononly when the associated vehicle controller is unlocked, and a circuit for each controller magnet controlled by the associated relay and the corresponding counter-actuated circuit controller.

12. In combination, a pair of converging tracks leading into a single track, a counter located in said single track for alternatel closing two circuit controllers one for eacli converging track, and 'traflic governing means for said converging tracks controlled by said circuit controllers.

13. In combination, a pair of converging tracks leading into a single track, 'a counter located in said single track for alternately closing two circuit controllers one for each converging track, and vehicle controllers and retarders for said converging tracks controlled by said circuit controllers.

14. In combination, a pair of converging tracks leading into a single track, a vehicle counter located in said single track, a circuit controller operated by said counteigand traflic governing means for said converging tracks controlled by said circuit controller.

15. In combination, a pair of converging 1 tracks leading into a single track, a vehicle counter located in said single track, a circuit controller alternately closed and opened by said counter, and traffic governing means for said converging tracks controlled by said circuit controller.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DONALD F. BROWN. 

